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The exhibition of the NBP Money Centre has been enriched with a unique historical numismatic item – the grosz of Casimir the Great. This silver coin, minted in the 14th century, is a real rarity as fewer than 50 original Kraków grosz coins are known today, bearing different variations of the obverse and reverse stamps.…
The Kraków grosz was put into circulation by Casimir the Great around 1367. In terms of weight and appearance it was modelled on the Prague groschen. This is evidenced by the graphic and compositional elements found on the coin: the inscription in a double rim, the crown on the obverse and the shape of the letters. The Piast Eagle on the country’s first grosz coin symbolised the monarchical power of Casimir the Great, and the content of the inscription clearly displayed the Polish origin of this money.
The obverse of the Kraków grosz features a crown surrounded by an inscription, i.e. the name and royal title: KAZIMIRUS PRIMUS DEI GRATIA REX POLONIE (Casimir the First, by the Grace of God, King of Poland). The reverse features the image of the Piast Eagle in a crown with the inscription GROSSI CRACOVIENSES (Kraków grosz) in the rim.
The silver Kraków grosz opened up a new era in the history of money on Polish soil (the grosz era), and thanks to Casimir the Great’s reforms, the foundations of the first nationwide monetary system were laid. As Tadeusz Kałkowski writes: “The Kraków grosz coins, withdrawn after ten years of circulation, were struck into half-grosz, the main coin of Casimir the Great’s reign from then on. Their salvaged remains, very rare in finds, are among the rarest of Polish coins.” There are currently fewer than 50 Kraków grosz coins that we know of.
This unique Polish coin was purchased for the NBP numismatic collection by NBP’s Cash and Issue Department.
